The Romanian House of Deputies adopted the draft Penal Procedure Code with a large majority on Tuesday following changes that have been applied in the judicial commission of the House prior to the vote today. The Code passed with 236 votes in favor, 25 against and one abstention.
The parties forming the governing coalition – Liberals (PNL), Democrats (PD), Hungarian Democrats (UDMR) and Conservatives (PC) – agreed to support the draft law in its latest form. The document was also supported by most Social Democrats (PSD, opposition) and was rejected by deputies of the far-right Greater Romania Party.
Changes to the initial draft included shorter periods for accepted wiretapping operations as part of criminal investigations, as well as decriminalisation of adultery or country's and Romanian nation defamaition.
The law will come into force 30 days after it is published into the Official Gazette.
